Chapter 23: .An Easy Target. *****At Hanson's House*****
"So when do we start the music stuff again??" Drusilla asked, excitedly.
"Taylor, you just can't jump back into the music right away. We have to make sure you're okay. I mean just because you have your memory back..." Zac began to explain.
"Nonsense! I'm fiiiinnnne!!!!!"
"You sound drunk," Ike muttered, not taking his eyes from the book he was reading.
"You haven't even told mom! And poor dad. It was so early when you woke him up that he hasn't even realized you're back to your old self!" Zac sighed.
"Dad knows. As for mom...well...she'll find out when she finds out, I guess!"
"That is no way to talk. They've been worried sick over you, and all you can say is 'well if they find out great, if not, oh well,'. Dad has been up until about 4 in the morning every night cancelling appearances and explaining what happened to the record company and producers, trying to get rid of reporters, and rescheduling our show dates. Don't you think if dad wasn't so tired this morning he would have been estatic to find out you're fine? He had NO idea what you were saying. He was so tired, you could have said that he had a frog on his shoulder and he would have been thrilled to pieces anyway." Ike said sternly, putting down his book. No wonder why everything thinks he'd be a great father when he got older. "Have a little consideration."
"Damnit! I get used to being one person, someone who acts completely different from who I am normally, and I have no idea how to fix it, and then I get everything back again, only to be yelled at by every single person in this God damn family!" Drusilla yelled.
"Regardless, Tay. Show some respect and have consideration for others. It's not JUST about you. This whole family is in this. And we're all in it together. So why can't you cooperate just a bit more?" Zac said, very annoyed.
"You two don't even seem happy that I can remember again."
"We're happy. Believe me, there was nothing we wanted more. But we don't want you going downstairs and getting mom and dad all pissed off when it's essentially your first day back. Try and bite your tongue. I'm sorry, Tay. I didn't mean to give you a cold welcoming. Neither did Zac. But the minute you woke up...everything just happened so wrong and so fast." Ike said, getting up to rest his hand on Tay's small shoulder.
"Okay, well then what time is it?" Drusilla asked, fully aware of the time herself.
"About 11:30," chimed Zac.
"You think Di-mom and dad are awake yet?" Drusilla slipped.
"I would assume so, although like I said before, Dad has been having some late nights." Ike said, unaware of Drusilla's mistake. Zac, however, picked up on it, but chose to ignore it. In his mind, something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
Brushing his thoughts aside, Zac invited his two brothers to come downstairs with him to greet the rest of the family. "Hey Dad! Hey Mom!" he exclaimed happily when he saw the entire family seated cozily around the table enjoying warm pancakes piled high and fresh orange juice - straight from the juicer. He found his place immediately and settled in as though he had been there the whole time. Isaac and Taylor followed. Walker, who had been reading the newspaper, lifted his face from behind the grayish black paper wall to greet his sons. Slowly, his face drained of all color when he saw his middle child.
"Taylor?????????????????????" he screeched.
"TAYLOR?!?!?!?!?!?!" Diana echoed.
"What happened to your hair?" Walker asked, shocked.
"Didn't we already go over this???" Drusilla asked, annoyed.
"No we did not!" Walker said affirmatively.
"This morning. Earlier." Drusilla hinted.
"You mean...that wasn't a dream?? That really happened?!" Walker asked, stunned.
"Yeah...it's real, dad," Ike muttered.
"That means...THAT MEANS YOU HAVE YOUR MEMORY BACK!!!!!" he exclaimed, jumping out of his seat, consequently almost overturning the whole table as well.
"At least someone's happy about it," Drusilla shot at his brothers, but the little remark went unnoticed to Diana and Walker.
"Hey...someone fill me in here! Tay, is that true?" Diana asked, puzzled.
"Yes, mom. I'm back to my old self again. I woke up and all of a sudden...I knew everything about myself! It was such a great feeling!" Drusilla said, overexaggerating the whole second part. She couldn't believe how ridiculous the Hanson family was.
"Oh, honey!!!! I'm so happy!!!!!!" she exclaimed, running over to hug her son. Tears of joy poured down the crevaces of her face.
"Me, too, Taylor! I'm so glad...I missed you're old self around here," Walker said, also hugging his son.
All Ike and Zac could do was grin at their happy parents. Isaac was still angry over Taylor's behaviour, but Zac still felt something wasn't right.
******************* "NO!!! That's NOT my old self, Dad!!!!!! LISTEN TO ME!!! IT'S ME!!!! JORDAN TAYLOR HANSON!!! You're REAL son!!! PLEASE!!!!!!" Tay yelled, dramatically banging on the floor.
"Taylor...please, calm down," Angel said in a reassuring, peaceful voice. "They can't hear you. Don't worry, please stay calm."
"How can they not see it's me, Angel? Don't they know me better than this? For 16 years, you'd think they could tell it's not really me...." he said through teary eyes.
"I know, Tay, I know...but look at it this way. So much has happened, no one expects you to return to your exact self right away. Drusilla isn't the smartest cookie, but she knows enough to stay reasonably within character. Plus, who would think something like this would happen? Most don't know we even exist. That's just how it is. You need to focus on your brothers more than your parents..." she said, placing a consoling hand on his shoulder.
"Why do you say that?" he asked.
"Well, Ike is really ticked right now, but Zac knows something's going on. He knew it all along. He doesn't realize what it is or how it is, however his instincts are telling him something is up. He tried to convince Ike of it before, and once he succeeded, however that was shortlived. He still tries, but Ike won't hear any of it. My advice to you is to focus on Zac. He's your easy target..."